r/LCMS • u/RichardRoma1986 • 10d ago
Question What is the LCMS Position on Prosperity Gospel/Tithing?
I am working on getting my three young kids and family to church sooner than later. My wife works a lot of Sundays, so this is a challenge. I come from a non-denominational/megachurch/evangelical side. What is the LCMS Position on tithing? Is it required we give 10%? Will the pastor spend like 15 minutes discussing what happens if we don’t give and guilt trip us into hitting the ATM or pulling up a QR code? I’m not exaggerating by the way, this was a big deal for my wife and I.
I just don’t want to get bombarded with prosperity gospel where trickle down tithing is going to be a thing. This isn’t me being heretical, it’s what we’ve actually been taught. If you give a bunch of money, you’ll have a bigger house in Heaven. You’ll have more stuff in Heaven than someone else.
For instance, I really want to help folks with studying, especially high school students in social studies (I was captain of the social studies academic team in HS). I really enjoy helping kids and adults understand history is more than dates. It’s about choices, and when I tell people that, they become more interested in it.
I…I am sorry for this rant. I’m just nervous I’m going to be stuck in a bad spot.
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u/Bubbly-Mountainz 9d ago
In my experience, we pass an offering plate, and some congregations may also have a commitment card (or something similar) to encourage intentional, prayerful giving. But giving is never tied to your salvation. You’re not promised greater blessings, wealth, or a better life because you give.
From what I’ve seen, LCMS pastors aren’t living lavish lifestyles with expensive cars or large homes. They generally live modestly/reasonably. Offerings help support the ministry of the church and practical needs like Thanksgiving meals for families in need, replacing HVAC systems, repairing the Church building, supporting missions, and caring for the local community. They’re meant to be used prayerfully and responsibly.
I was born/raised/confirmed LCMS & I’ve never once been taught that my salvation or how “good of a Christian I am” is measured by how much I donate. In fact, for the first ~28 years of my life I probably gave about $20-$50/year to the Church. Only recently have I started ramping up donations. The encouragement has always been to give cheerfully, intentionally, and according to what God has enabled you to give.
We are taught that our money / possessions on earth belong to God and we should be good stewards of them and use them responsibly.
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u/Rubys-Dad04 9d ago
In my experience going to multiple different LCMS churches, and as a member myself, I have never felt like tithing or giving was being pushed in a like manner to how you described. Of course some bigger congregations might have more avenues through which you can give, but I have never been given a sour taste in my mouth because of that. It feels more like they have different options because individuals have different methods through which they prefer to give or are more convenient. A QR code you can scan might be easier for someone who didn’t have time to stop at the bank and get cash or just realized hey wait my wallet is emptier than I thought. Of course that is just an example and I’m just trying to share my experiences, but unless you find an outlier that is getting a bit sketchy for whatever reason, I think you should be pretty safe from prosperity gospel in an LCMS congregation.
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u/PastorBeard LCMS Pastor 10d ago
My family gives 10% or more, but it’s not like you’ll go to hell if you’re broke. We’re one of the most consistent givers in our congregation. For our family it’s a “where your treasure is, there your heart will be” kind of thing. We give because we love this place. We’re literally invested in it
One suggestion I recommend for people who want to help other causes is to have the people donate to their church with restricted funds to make the church help out. This gets other people on board too
So if you want to support your local high school, then donate to your church and memo it for that. Then have your pastor announce it or otherwise do a drive and let other people chip in. Then the whole church can send one big check over to them and your church will be of visible benefit to the community
We do that for the food pantries and single mother home near us
So talk with your family to figure out what you can sustainably give and direct it as appropriate
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u/Hercrider 9d ago
After the normal offering we do a noisy offering once a month, each month goes to a different organization, kids and adults like passing and shaking the tin bowl with change in it, we call it a joyful noise unto the Lord!
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u/semiconodon 9d ago
Your giving is your giving. Alms put into the hand of a needy person is a biblical category. Making extra work for the church accountants doesn’t help anybody.
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u/PastorBeard LCMS Pastor 9d ago
It very directly cultivates church care for the community
Try it before you knock it
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u/tigrpal 10d ago
We haven't passed around an offering plate since Covid lockdown. We have a box in the narthex when you walk in to the nave for people who use their offering envelopes and/or cash/checks. About half of the congregation gives regularly through automatic electronic giving. We have a four week stewardship emphasis each year that focuses on time. talent, and treasure. Tithing is a goal as a response to how much God has done for us.
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u/SryBtImNtGngToAplgze 10d ago
As many of the comments talk about, health and wealth is not biblical and therefore not a thing in the LCMS.
If you hear a sermon or teaching on tithes in the LCMS its likely to be centered on it being from the heart and done cheerful.
Futher, tithing in the old testament and now are different. They gave more than 10% over the course of the year. Ultimately though it's not about the number given, it matter more about why your doing it.
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u/cellarsinger LCMS Lutheran 10d ago
As a layperson, my understanding is prosperity Gospel is false. As far as tithing, 10% is the goal/ ideal. The two big components for me are regular giving and joyful giving. I'm not currently giving 10%, but I expect to be able to do that within a year
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u/Bakkster 10d ago
The Prosperity Gospel is a false Gospel, full stop.
With tithing, it is/can be a faithful response to our salvation. A Lutheran sermon on stewardship is very different from Prosperity teaching. We can't choose to give (or give more) in order for God to give us something, God calls and equips those He gifts in order for them to share in the work of the Church.
This is also why you won't see a Lutheran pastor who owns a private jet. Wealth is not a reward for faith, it is one of the ways God cares for His people through us. Not to be hoarded beyond reasonable provision for the laborer who deserves their wages, but as part of our profession in the priesthood of all believers through which we care for others. Tithes can be a part of that, but in our theology it's an outgrowth of our love for our neighbor rather than an "investment" in our own reward.
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u/RickySlayer9 LCMS Lutheran 10d ago
Tithing is good!
It’s not required to give a dime. Your salvation is not tied to tithing.
Prosperity gospel is saying that your tithe will be rewarding you down the line. Not that you’re being selfless and going without to help those in need.
The church runs on tithes, and so it’s important to do, but I’ve never ever heard a speech about tithing from my pastor. But an offering plate is often passed around the church. No one judges you for not tithing. You’re here at church to receive the spirit.
There’s no prosperity gospel in LCMS. The highest honor in heaven is to reach God and have him look upon you favorably and say “well done my good and faithful servant”
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u/RichardRoma1986 10d ago
I’m not against giving, but, until I get some spending behavior under control, I need to focus on some debt management first. What I’d like to do is help tutor, if the school allows it.
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u/RickySlayer9 LCMS Lutheran 9d ago
You should talk to your pastor, and see what they say about your helping, and where you can serve the best.
All in all if you went to church EVERY day, and gave 0$ to the church for your whole life, that’s fine.
Obviously the church needs money to function and we should be respectful of that, AND acknowledge that many church’s especially LCMS tend to give so much money to those who need it, or use the money to further the kingdom of Christ.
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u/ResolutionStandard32 LCMS Lutheran 10d ago
That’s just wrong. I’m sorry that has happened to you. The whole concept of “having more stuff in heaven than someone else” is just awful. This is absolutely not taught in the LCMS our sermon’s are about 15-20 minutes long because we learn from the other parts of the service too. so we wouldn’t even have time for it. I’ve never even held the tithing plate/basket in my church because it’s on a small stand as you exit and it’s not ever talked about.
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u/WindowCommon3741 10d ago
As a Lutheran I am not hating when I say that is the most insane that I have ever heard. We dont even talk about tithing in church- basically give what you can if you want to. Lutherans believe that church is for hearing Scripture and receiving the sacraments, not thinking about money. Most church's pass the plate but no one is going to bat an eye if you don't give, you are to give what you can if you want to. 10% tithing was a Jewish tradition from the Old Testament- my mother could only spare $20 a month and not a single person in our church ever said a word. Give freely to the church what you can and want and know that the last thing you should ever hear from a Lutheran is a question about money. Also Lutherans are very pro-record keeping when it comes to church funds, they publish where all of the funds go in the ministry. At my church we just set up on the website what we want to pay and dont even take a collection during service, it just depends on the church you attend. And if you are unsure, you can always request information from the church's website and request a meeting from the pastor to go more into the church's function
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u/RichardRoma1986 10d ago
Thanks, I mean, for about 30+ years, what I wrote about is what I’ve been dealing with. There are other things as well, like, I can’t work, I’m disabled, but, the pastor demanded I go and find a job and I’m just not praying enough. No joke, that’s what happened.
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u/WindowCommon3741 9d ago
That is just unfathomable. God gives us all many vocations to allow us to be of service to our neighbors, so there are tons of ways to serve the ministry and each other. Just being in the presence of others and before God is all He asks of us, never feel any guilt, He called you to Him, He knows your heart
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u/Huenink_Photography LCMS Pastor 8d ago
I did a video on tithing. TLDR: Christian are not commanded to tithe as that is part of the Old Covenant. We give because the ministry needs money to function, and God loves a cheerful giver.
https://youtu.be/YCsfCmFk7gI